THE country’s agricultural trade deficit widened in September to $1.25 billion, higher than the $1.21 billion recorded in the previous month and $1.00 billion recorded during the same month last year.
“The total balance of trade in agricultural goods in September 2026 was the highest deficit recorded since March 2026 with $1.26 billion,” the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) on Thursday said.
The total agricultural trade for September amounted to $2.53 billion, down 3.7 percent from $2.63 billion in September 2025.
Agri exports down
Agricultural exports fell by 21.2 percent to $642.11 million from $814.40 million a year earlier. The September exports accounted for 6.5 percent of the country’s total exports.
Edible fruits and nuts; peel of citrus fruit or melons topped the exports at $229.55 million or 35.7 percent of the total agricultural exports in September.
Exports to Asean member states reached $52.24 million, or 2.9 percent of total exports to the bloc. Malaysia was the top buyer of agricultural exports worth $17.04 million or a share of 32.6 percent to the total value of agricultural exports to Asean member countries in September.
The rest of the top five were Thailand ($8.51 million), Vietnam ($8.39 million), Singapore ($8.30 million), and Indonesia ($6.06 million). Exports to other Asean member countries, meanwhile, are worth $3.94 million.
Tobacco and manufactured tobacco substitutes; products, whether or not containing nicotine, intended for inhalation without combustion; other nicotine containing products intended for the intake of nicotine into the human body led exports to Asean at $14.25 million (27.3 percent); followed by animal, vegetable, or microbial fats and oils and their cleavage products; prepared edible fats; animal or vegetable waxes ($11.40 million, 21.8 percent); and miscellaneous edible preparations ($5.07 million, 9.7 percent).
Exports to the European Union reached to $124.24 million, or 14.4 percent of total exports to the bloc. The Netherlands was the top EU destination, with $81.09 million, or 65.3 percent of the total agricultural exports to the bloc.
The rest of the top six were Italy ($19.63 million), Spain ($7.17 million), Germany ($7.07 million), Belgium ($2.87 million), and France ($1.50 million). Exports to other EU countries, meanwhile reached $4.91 million.
Animal, vegetable, or microbial fats and oils and their derivatives topped EU-bound exports at $89.34 million (71.9 percent); followed by preparations of meat, of fish, of crustaceans, mollusks or other aquatic invertebrates or of insects ($8.21 million, 6.6 percent), and edible fruit and nuts; peel of citrus fruit or melons ($7.33 million, 5.9 percent).
Imports rose 4.2%
Agricultural imports rose by 4.2 percent to $1.89 billion from $1.82 billion a year ago. The September 2026 imports represented 12.6 percent share of the country’s total imports.
The PSA said the September figure was the highest recorded since July 2026 with $1.96 billion.
Cereals led agricultural imports, valued at $483.84 million, or 25.6 percent of the total.
Imports from Asean member states totaled $731.99 million, or 21.2 percent of all imports from the bloc. Indonesia was the leading supplier of agricultural products to the Philippines, supplying $288.43 million, or 39.4 percent.
The rest of the top five were Thailand ($141.63 million), Malaysia ($100.17 million), Vietnam ($83.51 million), and Singapore ($62.35 million). Imports from other Asean countries reached to $55.91 million.
Animal, vegetable, or microbial fats and oils and their cleavage products; prepared edible fats; animal or vegetable waxes topped Asean-sourced imports at $213.38 million or (29.2 percent) followed by cereals ($134.49 million, 18.4 percent), and miscellaneous edible preparations ($123.70 million, 16.9 percent).
Imports from the European Union reached $159.01 million, or 22.1 percent of the total from the bloc. Spain was the top EU source, at $32.30 million, or 20.3 percent to the country’s total value of agricultural imports.
The rest of the top eight comprised of Germany ($20.25 million), Ireland ($19.71 million), Italy ($16.51 million), the Netherlands ($16.38 million), Poland ($14.20 million), France ($13.47 million), and Belgium ($11.40 million). Imports from other EU countries reached to $14.80 million.
Dairy produce, birds’ eggs, natural honey, and other edible animal products led EU-sourced imports at $48.24 million (30.3 percent); followed by meat and edible meat offal ($28.83 million, 18.1 percent); and residues and waste from the food industries; prepared animal fodder ($20.53 million, 12.9 percent).
